The Architecture of Tomorrow: A Comprehensive Guide to the Futures Markets Subject: Financial Derivatives / Market Mechanics Date: October 26, 2023
| Participant | Goal | Example | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Reduce risk. Protect against price changes. | An airline buys crude oil futures to lock in fuel costs. A farmer sells corn futures to guarantee a minimum price. | | Speculators | Profit from price movement. Provide liquidity. | A day trader buys S&P 500 futures betting the market will rise. A hedge fund shorts gold futures expecting a price crash. | a complete guide to the futures market
Hedgers create the market’s reason for existing. Speculators create the market’s liquidity and volatility. You cannot have one without the other. The Architecture of Tomorrow: A Comprehensive Guide to
Think of it like this: You are a baker. You need wheat in 6 months. You fear the price will rise. A farmer grows wheat. He fears the price will fall by harvest. You both agree today: "On December 1st, I will buy 5,000 bushels of wheat from you at $6.00 per bushel." A farmer sells corn futures to guarantee a minimum price